…As Sagamu Court Remands Seven Suspected Land Grabbers

Lagos – A Chief Magistrate’s Court, in Sagamu, Ogun state has ordered the remand of seven suspected land grabbers, in prison custody, for an alleged attempt to kill members of Isoso Village, in Shagamu Demo, Ogun State.

Magistrate O.F Adeduntan made the remand order while granting a motion exparte marked MSH/348WC/2018, filed and argued before the court by the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun.

Praying the court to remand all the suspects pending the issuance of a legal advice by the State’s Director of the Public Prosecution (DPP), on the allegations against them, Animashaun told the court the motion exparte for their remand is pursuant to section 306 of Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ogun State, and under the Inherent jurisdiction of the court.

He also told the court that the motion exparte is attached with an 11 paragraph-affidavit, deposed to by Inspector Idoka Nwadiogor of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja, with several exhibits which includes the suspects’ statements, complainants’ statements, petition from the lawyer to the complainants, photographs of the victims during the alleged attack on the community, and copy of charge against the respondents.

In the affidavit, the deponent stated that the IGP Monitoring Unit, Abuja, led by Mr. Abu Sanni, a Commissioner of Police, on August 3, 2018, received from Bayo Omoniyi and Co., a lawyer to the Isoso Village, Shagamu, relating to how the suspects in concert with one Kazeem Teriba, had variously invaded their community with guns, axes, cutlasses and inflicting diverse degree of injuries, damaged their properties, as well stationed fierce looking armed thugs to keep vigil in and around the town.

The deponent also averred that investigating the petition, it was discovered that the respondents attacked and shot the complainants with guns and that in the course of investigation, one locally made gun, two short axes and four cutlasses were recovered.

He also stated that upon conclusion of the investigation, the respondents were found culpable of the allegations, and that there is a prima facie case of conspiracy, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms, threatening violence and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace.

The offences which are contrary to and punishable under sections 516, 320(1), 249(d) of the criminal laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006, and Section 4 and punishable under section 28(1)(b) of the Firearms Act Cap F 28 Law of the Federation of Nigeria. 2004.

Magistrate Adeduntan, granted the application and ordered that all the suspect be remanded in prison custody till December 31, for report on DPP’s advice on the matter

After granting the motion exparte, the magistrate ordered that the charge be read to the suspected land grabbers, but declined to take the plea on the grant that her lacks jurisdiction over the charges against them, she therefore while adjourned till January 4, 2019, for further hearing on the charges.

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